(TibetanReview.net, Sep14, 2015) – Two more Tibetan Buddhist monks have carried out separate lone street protests in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) County of Sichuan Province, this time on Sep 10, bringing to seven the number of such actions in the area directed against Chinese rule and policies since Jul 15. Both were quickly taken away, with at least one of them being beaten after being taken away, reported Radio Free Asia (Washington) Sep 11. The report added that several onlookers who shouted in support of a protester were also detained.
Lobsang Dagpa, 20, also known as Adrak, shouted for freedom for Tibetans as he staged his protest in the county’s main town, the report cited a local source as saying. The report added that other Tibetans who witnessed the incident also raised cries in his support and there was an unconfirmed report of a clash with Chinese police, leading to many possible arrests.
The monk is said to belong to Kirti-Monastery, located in Ngaba County-town. His family lives in the county’s Suruma Township.
In another incident on the same day, a monk named Lobsang carried out a lone protest in Ngaba County-town around 6:00 pm. He too shouted for freedom for Tibetans and also prayed long-life for Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Chinese police took him away as soon as they saw him protesting and also possibly some lay Tibetans who protested his detention.
Earlier, on Sep 9, Chinese police took away 21-year-old Kirti monk Jampel Gyatso, after he carried out a lone protest on the Dzongkar Street in Ngaba County. He carried a large portrait of the Dalai Lama over his head and called for freedom in Tibet while protesting.
Jampel Gyatso’s protest and arrest came two days after Lobsang Kelsang, 19, also from Kirti Monastery, was arrested at around 3 pm on Sep 7.
Before that, on Aug 20, a woman named Dorje Dolma carried out a lone protest very early in the morning and was taken away by Chinese police shortly afterwards. The resident of Village No. 2 in the county’s Meruma Township had shouted slogans as she was arrested.
Before Dorje Dolma, Woekar Kyi, an about 23-year-old mother of a four-year-old son and resident of Meruma’s Village No. 1, was taken away by Chinese police on Aug 15 after she carried out a lone afternoon protest on the township’s street. She shouted slogans, demanding freedom and the return from exile of Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
And on Jul 15, Wangmo, 22, of Meruma’s Village no. 3 was held shortly after she started a lone protest march on the township’s main street, carrying a portrait of Tibet’s exile spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.